USUN files
Memorandum of Conversation, by Henry Villard of the United States Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly
Subject:
- Arab League Views on Morocco
Participants:
- Dr. Hassouna, Secretary General of the Arab League
- Ambassador Lodge, U.S. Delegation
- Henry S. Villard, U.S. Delegation
After commenting favorably on the attitude of the present US administration toward the Arabs, Dr. Hassouna observed that another favorable factor in the relations of the Arab countries with the West was the conclusion of the Suez Canal agreement.1 He thought that once this was out of the way, it would be the starting point for a new chapter in Arab history. He intimated that it might also then be possible for the Arabs to do something about improving their relations with Israel. Ambassador Lodge said that from what he knew of the Arabs, they could be counted upon as opposed to Communism and as basically friendly to the West.
Dr. Hassouna was particularly interested in the question of Morocco. He said that while progress had been made in the negotiations between the Mendes-France Government and Tunisia, nothing definite had yet taken place in regard to Morocco. He called attention to an [Page 656] article by Associate Justice William Douglas in the current issue of Look and said that he could not add one word to that account as an accurate portrayal of the Arab point of view. During the course of a visit to both French and Spanish Morocco, he had observed the depth of the feeling for self-government. In conversation with General Franco and Spanish authorities he had received assurances that progress toward self-government would be strongly encouraged in the Spanish Zone of Morocco. However, this seemed to be dependent on a settlement of the problem in French Morocco, which thus took on added importance.
Dr. Hassouna requested that Ambassador Lodge take a direct interest in the Moroccan question with a view to persuading the French to reach a solution as soon as possible. In order to give every opportunity for a settlement, the Arab delegations at the GA were disposed to do nothing to disturb the situation for the moment and to keep the Moroccan item for the latter part of the agenda. He hoped that the United States could take a hand in persuading Mendes-France to act promptly in the case of Morocco, just as in the case of Tunisia.
Ambassador Lodge said that he agreed with the need for impressing on the French the desirability of expediting a Moroccan solution and he would recommend to Secretary Dulles that steps be taken toward that end. The more immediate problems of the Mendes-France government, such as Indo-China had been taken care of, and it might be possible for us to bring this subject to the attention of the French in a friendly manner, in the hope of influencing them to take appropriate action. Dr. Hassouna said he would like to leave the entire responsibility for this matter in the hands of Ambassador Lodge, which however Ambassador Lodge said he could scarcely undertake to accept.
Dr. Hassouna explained that the Arab League lacked adequate representation in the United States and that he had been fortunate in obtaining the services of former Ambassador Rahim to establish an Arab League office either in Washington or New York. Various technical questions remained to be settled in regard to the status of such an office vis-à-vis the United Nations and the United States Government, which he had discussed with the Secretary General and with officials of the State Department respectively. He asked that Ambassador Lodge endeavor to obtain a favorable reaction in regard to this matter. Ambassador Lodge said he would see what he could do.
Mr. Villard inquired why in the opinion of Dr. Hassouna, Dr. Jamali of Iraq had been so anxious to place the Moroccan item high on the agenda of Committee One. Dr. Hassouna replied that this was due to the fact that the Moroccan nationalist Balafrej had come to New York with news that the French attitude was most discouraging and that no negotiations were in prospect. It was in an attempt to call [Page 657] attention to the urgency of the matter in the face of this situation that Dr. Jamali had tried to gain immediate notice for Morocco.
Dr. Hassouna concluded by again referring to the change in United States policy toward the Arabs shown by the present administration. He expressed gratification at this development and said that it would contribute materially to an improvement in relations with the Arab world. Ambassador Lodge said he felt we were on the right track and that as time went on he hoped the results would be even more fruitful.